Device for operating coupling-pins.



J. S. SHEPHERD.

DEVICE FOR OPERATING COUPLING PINS.

APPLICATION rmm 0012.1, 1900.

978,406. Patented Dec.'13, 1910.

V To all whom it may concern:

JOSEPH S. SHEPHERD, OF-VINION, VIRGINIA.

DEVICE FOR OPERATING COUPLING-PINS.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

Application filed October 27, 1909. Serial No. 524,988.

Be it known that I, J osnrn S. SHEPHERD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vmton, 1n the. county of Roanoke and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Device for ,Operating Coupling- Pins, of WhlCh the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in devicesfor operating coupling pins, and

is especially applicable for use in connection with freight cars, altht ugh, of'course, the invention can be used equally as well on other cars if so desired.

- The principal object of the invention is to provide a device, of the character described which embodies a novel construction .wherebythe operating lever can be easily and quickly removed from, or secured to a car wthenever desired, and without the necessity o removing the bracket supporting sockets.

A further object of the invention is to rovide'such a device which can be employe in connection with any type of coupling now in general use.

A still further object of the invention is provide a device of the class described WhlCh is simple in construction, easy of operation and manipulation, and cheap to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter-fully described, illustrated 'in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood-that various changes in the form, proportion. size, and minor details of construction, 'Within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing :.Figure 1 is a perspective view of one end of a freight car showin the invention applied to the end sill thereo Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the outer rod-supporting member. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 1s a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bracket, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the socket member.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the draw- Referring to the drawing, the invention comprises two socket members 77 which are preferably rectangular in shape, and are.

formed from any suitable metal. As the two members are substantial duplicates a description of'one of them will suflice. The outer face of the lower end of the outer member is formed with an ear 8, and the upper end thereof is provided with oppositely extendmg ears 99 and a rearwardly extendin top flange 10. This member is arrange near one end of an end sill 11 of any car, and secured thereon by screws 12 or other suitable means, as clearly shown in the drawing. Although the member is preferabl constructed in the manner above describe it may be constructed without the top flange 10, as shown by reference to Fig. 6 of the drawing.

The outer portion of the member is hollowed out to 'form a vertical and substantially T-shaped socket (in cross section) having a bottom 13, and undercut side walls -14-14 which are open at the top. The

socket also includes a central exterior opening 15 which communicates with the outer 'face 16 of the member and the said under- ,the said end sill 11 at a point in close proximity to the coupling 18.

The invention further .com rises rod-supporting brackets 19-19, eac of which is detachably mounted in the sockets of the members 7-7, as will be hereinafter fully described. Inasmuch as the construction of the bracketsare alike, :1 single description thereof will be sufficient. The bracket is preferably formed I-shaped in cross sectlon and is of a depth equal to the T-sha ped socket before'described. The bracket 19 consists of spaced front and rear flanges 20' and 20 respectively, which are centrally connected by a web 21. Integral with the front flange 20 is an offset and forward] extending bearin 22 which is preferab y arranged near t e top edge thereof and is Althou h the outer member isshown' an ear 8, it maybe omitted if so desirec, as shown by the flange 20 of the brackets fitting within the undercut side walls thereof, and the web 21 ing 25, which registers with the first-mentioned openings, is ,formed in the web 21, of the brackets. A bolt 26 or other means is passed through these registering openlngs and is preferably retained in place by a nut 27 or other suitable means.

An operating rod 28 is rotatably mounted within the openings orbearings 23 of the brackets, and comprises an inner end portion 29 which is bent at right-angles, and is provided at itsend with a detachable chain 30 or the like, which is connected to a coupling-pin 31. The outer end 32 of the rod is bent. at right-angles to the rod anda-lso at right-angles to the inner end 29. The sa1d outer end terminates in a handle 33 which is preferably bent at right-angles to'the portion 32. The said portlon 32 is provided on its underside with a plurality of teeth 34. A dog 35 is pivoted on the outer side face of the socket member 7 by a boltor other suitable means 36 and is provided with a chamfered end 37.

Thus it will be seen, that whenever it is desired to release the said pin, the handle 33 ofthe rod 28 is swung outwardly and upwardly, the movement causing the inner end 29 of the rod to move upwardly and thereby elevate the said pin 31. The pin can be suspended in this position by engaging the chamfered end 37 of the dog 35 with any of the teeth 34 of the end 32 of the rod. To drop the pin, it is only necessary to release the dog, and the rod will assume its normal position through gravity. It will be furthermore observed, that should the rod become broken through any cause whatsoever, it will only be necessary to remove the bolts 26, and the rod, together with the brackets 19-19, can be simultaneously detached from the socket members 77, thus avoiding the necessity of removing the device in its entirety.

What I claim is 1. device for operatin coupling pins comprising an operating ro spaced socket members permanently secured to the end sill of the car, and rod supporting brackets detachably. mounted in the sockets of the said members and having transverse openings therein which provide complete bearings for the said rod, whereby the" brackets are carried by the rod upon the removal of said brackets from the socket members.

2. A device for operating: coupling pins,

comprising spaced members permanently secured to an end sill of a can one of the members being located near the end of the sill, and the other member in-close proximity to the coupling, said members being respectively rovided with a substantially T-shaped soc :et having a bottom and undercut side Walls, said sockets opening at. the outer and upper faces of the members,

rod being bent at right-angles to the rod and also at right-angles to the said inner end. In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two'witnesses.

JOSEPH S. SHEPHERD. Witnesses:

J. E. GISH, S. D. SHAOKLEFORD. 

